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D. B. SCOTT;

METALLIC FENCE POST.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 27, 1883. I

N. PETERS. ma-Lnba rm vmmmon. n. c

UNITED ST TES DAVID B. soorr, or snIneLn sinuses, CALIFORNIA.

METALLlC FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,149, dated November 27, 1883. A ,Applicutin filed Junelfi, 1883. (No model.)

f0 rail whom it may concern:

the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a new and useful metallic fepce-post; and it consists, in connectionwith the upper portion of the post, (preferably of angle-irom) of an improved screwpoint and means for anchoring the'post, as I shall fully describe, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in whiche- Figure 1 is a view of my post shown in the ground. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of the casting A. 1

As a substitute for wooden fence-posts, itis claimed by many that the angle-iron fencepost comes. nearest the requirements of strength, durability, and. economy. I have therefore illustrated my improvements in connection with this class "of posts, though I do not confine myself to such posts, as the advantages and results of my invention will follow its connection with other forms of posts.

Angle-iron, tubular, and other fence-posts are usually beveled or tapered at their'lower ends and driven into the ground. I have found that they will not hold in either hard or soft soils against theupward strain of the wires when drawn to a proper tension to fasten them, and this is the case especially where the face of the country is rolling, hilly, or cut up by deep ravines which haveto be crossed. In such ground, if driven when the earth is dry, they may hold for a time; but when it becomes soft in wet weather the strain of the wires,which did not move them when placed, will have a tendency to draw them from the ground, as their shape and smooth surface is not suchas to resist the lifting force. This inore'especially applies to the climatic changes on the Pacifrocoast, where the ground is baked by the summer heat and softened by the incessant winter rains.

The object of my invention .is to provide means for resisting or counteracting the up- -ward strain of the wires in any kind of soil and at ali times.

1 A is a casting having an oblong flange, a, near its upper end. Into the top oft-his casting while still soft the angle-iron post 13 is inserted, the upper portion, a, of the casting surrounding it, and forming, with the flange a, a base for it. The lower portion of the casting is made cylindrical and hollow, and is provided with a thread, 0, upon a tapering stem or body. The lower end of this thread is formed into the point for centering in advance of the screw. There are two peculiarities of this thread. The first, is that it is horizontal on the upper side and'angling or inclined upon the lower side; Thismalres it take firmer hold on the ground than if it were an ordinary thread. The other is that thewidth of the thread itself is not equal throughout its length-that is, it does not project from the body or shaftan equal distance at all points. It is increased in width as it nears the point, as shown. The advantage of this is that, as the holding resistance of the ground is greater in the more compact earth below, the wider thread gives a better hold, while it does not affect the entering capacity of the screw through the more yielding surface or top soil.

The thread, being angling on its lower side,

permits the ready advancement into the ground, while its horizontal upper surface resists thevertical strain.

In placing these posts I use a pointed bar as a starter. The post is then screwed down by means of a cross-bar, suitably attached, until the oblong fiange it rests on the ground in such position that its longer direction lies at right angles to the line of the fence. On level ground, where there is no tendency to an upward strain, this would be sufficient, but on uneven ground I prefer to use, in addition, the

anchor-bars 1). These have their upper ends, d, bent at right angles, and are drivrenn'in o the ground obliquely until their bent ends (1/ rest upon the flange a, or upon ribs thereon. I

may'use twoor four of these anchor-bars, as

necessity requires.

y E are the wires, secured in a suitable manner.

The flange a, when thus anchored, not only assists in confining the post in the ground,

but, as it projects at right angles to the line of 1c the fence,-it acts as a foot-brace when high winds prevail in the rainy season, when the ground becomes soft and saturated with water.

The post thus constructed is of great utility, and will be immovable against all the strain the wires will bear in hard, soft, or uneven ground.

I am aware that a fence-post having a screwpoint has been heretofore known; but its construction is different from mine.

\ I do not claim the screw-point, broadly; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The post B, in combination with the casting A, forming its tapering, point, said casting being provided with a thread, 0, horizontal on its upper side and angled or inclined upon its lower side, and having a graduallyends or heads d, engagingwith the flange a,

substantially as herein shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 0 hand. r

DAVID B. SCOTT.

\Vitnesses:

D. T. HALL,

R. K; BERRY. 

